"This is probably the weakest batting side," says Shane Warne on Australian team ahead of Pakistan series

Australia are all set to take on Pakistan in Test and ODI series starting Sunday. Before the start of the Tests, Shane Warne has said that this is the weakest batting line-up which Australia have had.

Shane Warne has said that Australia have a weak batting line-up&nbsp | &nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspAP

Spin legend Shane Warne isn’t very confident of Australia's batting line-up performing well in the series against Pakistan as he has said that Cricket Australia is struggling at the moment and has the weakest batting side. “Australian cricket at the moment is struggling. I think we've got a fantastic bowling unit, I think we've got good reserves, good back-up, but our batting is as weak as I've seen it for a long, long time. Especially, with probably two of the top five batsmen in the world, in David Warner and Steve Smith, being banned for 12 months, it weakens our batting even more," Warne told Omnisport.

"Australia revolve around Smith and Warner so much. To not have those guys, it looks like probably [Usman] Khawaja and Shaun Marsh will be our two leading batsmen and carrying the workload of the batters. For me over all the years I've watched Australian cricket, I think it's probably the weakest batting side we are going to have put together and we're probably only average or if you're trying to be nice to them, a bit above average," he added.

(Steven Smith and David Warner were banned for one year. Photo credits: AP)

Australia are without the services of their former captain and vice-captain, Steven Smith and David Warner respectively. The duo, along with Cameron Bancroft, was banned by Cricket Australia. The trio was involved in the ball-tampering scandal that took place during the third Test of the series against South Africa earlier this year.

Smith and Warner were sanctioned for one-year while Bancroft was banned for nine months and he can make his comeback in the month of December later this year.

In the absence of Smith and Warner, the pressure will be on Matt Renshaw and Aaron Finch, who has plenty of experience of playing limited-overs cricket. Finch will be making his Test debut. It will be an opportunity for him to do well and fix his place in the Test team.

In the bowling department, Australia will miss out on the services of Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins but Mitchell Starc is a part of the team. Experienced Peter Siddle will also be key for Australia if given a chance.

Spinners will have a key role to play in the series to be played in UAE. Nathan Lyon will lead the spin attack and will be assisted by Jon Holland and Ashton Agar. Holland is expected to be preferred over Agar if Australia go with two spinners. The first Test of the series will kick off on Sunday.

"This is probably the weakest batting side," says Shane Warne on Australian team ahead of Pakistan seriesDescription:Australia are all set to take on Pakistan in Test and ODI series starting Sunday. Before the start of the Tests, Shane Warne has said that this is the weakest batting line-up which Australia have had.Times Now